Paper box.



' L. P. REXFORD.

PAPER BOX.

APPLICATION FILED DEC.26. 1914.

l 9 1 Wm Patented Nov. 16, 1915.

mmn hm K mm COMPANY, or s'r. Lo IsMIssoUItI, A CORPORATION or MrssoUn'I,

Lax P. REXFORD, or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, Ass-lemon T0 AMERICAN PAPER'Pnonuo'rs PAPER BOX.

LIGUJGU Specification of Letters Patent.

Iatented Nov. I6, 1915.

Application filed December 26, 1914. Serial No. 879,099.

Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PaperBoxes, of. which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a. part of thisspecification. I

My invention relates to improvements in paper boxes, one of the objectsbeing to produce a reinforced and very strong paper box structure.

Another object is to provide simple means for sealing a paper box sothat its contents cannot be removed without leaving indication that thebox has been opened by an unauthorized person. I

Prior to this invention paper boxes, perticularly shipping boxes made ofcorrugated paper board, have been made by cutting and folding a singlesheet of paper to produce a box body and closure flaps, and the ends ofthe sheet of paper have been connected by a strip of tape located at acorner of the box and cemented to adjoining side walls. The

sealing tape referred to is usually fully exposed at a corner of the boxand since it is merely cemented to the box walls the tape may be readilyloosened by moistening it with a wet cloth or sponge, and in practicethe tape is frequently removed for; the purpose of pilfering thecontents" of the box. The removal of the sealing tape Willpermit two ofthe side walls of the box to be spread apart, thereby permitting theremoval of small articles from the box, and when the tape is againcemented to the adjacent side walls,'the box is? completely sealed andrestored to its original condition.

In accordance with my invention, the vertical sealing tape at the cornerof the box is so secured that it cannot be removed without mutilatingsome part of the box structure, which would indicate that the box'has.been torn open.

Figure I is a perspective view of a box structure embodying the featuresof my invention, the closure flaps at the upper and lower ends of the'box body being shown in their open positions. .Fig. II is an enlargedde tail view of one corner of the box, showing the adjacent side wallswhich are connected by the sealing tape, and also showing the means forsecuring an end of the sealing tape to the box structure. Fig. III is aperspectlve view of the upper portion of the box, showing onlyone of theclosure flaps inits open position. Fig. IV is a perspect1ve view, on areduced scale, showing the box as it, appears, when all of the'closureflaps are closed and sealed.

The shipping box, shown in the accompanylng drawings, is preferablyformed of of a single sheet of corrugated paper board,-

scored at 1, 2 and 3, and folded to produce a rectangular body havingside walls 4, 5, 6 and 7. The ends of this folded sheet of paper areconnected by a strip of tape 8, preferably of fabric, located at acorner of the box and -cemented to the side walls 4 and 5. The sheet ofpaper is also slitted to produce closure flaps 9 and 10, and scored at11 to produce closure hinges. The strip of tape 8 extends beyond theclosure hinges l1 and it is slitted at each end to produce a pair ofintegrally connected tongues 8 and 8 one of which is cemented to aclosure flap 9, and the other being cemented to a closure 10.

A designates combined-seals and reinforcing elements each of which ispreferably a band of tape, preferably of. fabric, surrounding andcemented to'the four side walls, and also cemented to the closure flaps9 and 10. This sealing tape covers the end portions of the tape 8 and itis slitted to produce wings .12 secured to theclosure flaps 9 and wings13 secured to the closure flaps 10. It will be noted that the wings 12and 18. formed by slitting the tape A are integrally connected together.

In closing the box the inner flaps 9 are folded intothe box body asshownin Fig.

III, and the outer flaps 10 are folded over and cemented to the innerflaps 9. hen the closure flaps are folded and'cemented in this mannerthe tape wings 1:2 carried by the inner flaps 9' are concealed by,andfirmly secured to, the outer flaps 10. The sealing tape isthussecured so that it cannot be removed by moistening its outer surface,and owing to the peculiar manner in which this sealingtape is folded thestrip of tape 8 cannot be loosened from the box structure.

7 The tongues 8* at the ends of the tape 8 are ered' the outer flaps 10which are cemented to the inner flaps 9 and wings 12 of the tape 8. Inthis connection it is important since the tape on the inner flaps isinaccessible the sealing tape cannot be removed Without mutilating thebox structure. Also the I tape 8 covered by and secured to the sealingtape A cannot be removed Without mutilating' some .part of the structurethereby indicating that the box has been opened.

' In addition to serving as a seal or telltale device, the sealing'tapeties the box \valls together, reinforces the box structure, and protectsthe box at the corners Where boxes of this kind are usually damaged inshipment. As Will be obvious, the tape may be of such texture, thicknessand. strength as to add greatly to the stability of the box Wherever thetape is present in my box.

I claim: 1. A box comprising a sheet of paper, slitted to' produce innerand outer closure flaps and scored to produce closure hinges,.,

astrip of tape cemented to said sheet of paper to connect the endsthereof, and sealing tape located at corners of the box so as to coverthe end portions of said first named inner flaps so as to conceal thesealing tape i on said inner fiaps.

2. A i'einforced paper box comprising a single sheet of paper slitted,scored and folded to produce'a box body having four side walls and innerand outer closure flaps hinged to said side walls, a strip of tapecemented to said sheet of paper at the junction of tWO-OfSilld Walls soas to connect the ends of said sheet of paper, each end portion of saidfirst named strip of tape being slitted to provide tWO integrallyconnected tongues one of which is cemented to an inner flap and theother being cemented to an outer flap, and combined seals andreinforcing elements each of which comprises a band of sealing tapesurrounding and cemented to said four side Walls-and covering the endportions of said first named strip of tape, each band of sealing tapebeing cemented to the inner and outer closure flaps at one end of thebox, and the outer flaps being folded over and cemented-to the innerflaps so as to secure and conceal the tape onthe inner flaps.

LEY P. REXFORD. In the presence of A. J. MCCAULEY, E. K. CLARK.

